When summer has fully settled in along the Front Range in mid-July, birds often seem less active. Perhaps because of the tremendous effort it takes to attract a mate, build a nest, feed and raise young, or because warm weather induces a certain lassitude in bird behavior. Regardless, when looking for birds, getting out early when the day is coolest is critical to success.
But so is location, which is why seven Evergreen Audubon members and friends were at Pine Valley Ranch Park near Pine, Colorado at 7 am. Pine Valley Ranch Park is the southernmost JeffCo Open Space property in the county, and lies along the the North Fork of the South Platte River. Cliffs and hills to the west of the river, and the river itself, keep temperatures lower and bird activity higher along the main trail, and that trail was the focus for most of our birding. Pine Lake, a small impoundment off the river channel, also provided great birding opportunities. Another feature of this park is that a substantial area in the property burned in the 2006 Pine Valley fire, and the recovering burn areas expand the diversity of ecosystems and birds one might encounter.
Walking along the trails adjacent to Pine Lake and the river, we observed a variety of birds. Yellow Warblers and Lesser Goldfinches were abundant, calling from within the riparian willows. Cedar Waxwings and Pygmy Nuthatches flitted among heavily cone-laden Douglas Firs. Broad Tailed Hummingbirds were also present above the S. Platte by one of several bridges that connect the Narrow Gauge Trail, (built on part of the old Denver, South Park & Pacific line). Walking further upstream on the Narrow Gauge trail leads to more open, drier habitat where we saw Western Flycatchers and frequently heard Warbling Vireos. Returning along the North Fork view trail, we traversed a large meadow that led back to the far side of the Pond, which provided the opportunity to watch an Osprey consuming a large fish atop one of the fir-scarred remnant tree trunks upslope from the lake. Throughout our walk, a number of butterfly species were also identified (kudos to Ron Belak).
Pine Valley Ranch Park is very popular, so by the time we completed our walk, the lot and pavilions along the river were full and trail activity was high, confirming our choice of getting our bird walk completed during the cool morning hours. Our final tally of 31 bird species, and a North American Beaver was ample reward for rising early!
Pine Valley Ranch Park is a great spot to bird, convenient to Evergreen and Conifer, and if you pick your time right, amply rewarding for wildlife and scenic viewing. If you have yet to visit this Open Space gem, give it a try.
Good Birding!
Ed Furlong
Pine Valley Ranch Park
Jul 20, 2024
3.25 miles
240 Minutes
Birds Observed:
4 Mourning Dove
12 Broad-tailed Hummingbird
1 Spotted Sandpiper
5 Double-crested Cormorant
3 Turkey Vulture
1 Osprey
1 Red-tailed Hawk
2 Belted Kingfisher
2 Northern Flicker
1 American Kestrel
2 Olive-sided Flycatcher
15 Western Wood-Pewee
12 Western Flycatcher
6 Warbling Vireo
3 Black-billed Magpie
4 American Crow
10 Mountain Chickadee
10 Violet-green Swallow
15 Pygmy Nuthatch
1 House Wren
12 Gray Catbird
8 American Robin
12 Cedar Waxwing
2 Pine Siskin
20 Lesser Goldfinch
2 American Goldfinch
1 Song Sparrow
6 Red-winged Blackbird
12 Yellow Warbler
2 Yellow-rumped Warbler
2 Western Tanager
Number of Taxa: 31
Butterflies Observed:
Butterflies seen were:
Queen
Weidemeyer’s Admiral
Cabbage White
Clouded Sulfur
Western Swallowtail
Wood Nymph
fritillaries
blues